But the Federal government has an essential
role in the modern world, and will remain substantial even when downsized.
Yes, and maybe. Depends on your definition of substantial.
The core constitutional functions of the federal goverment are national defense, regulating foreign and interstate commerce, handling citizenship, bankruptcy, coinage, the post office and post roads, trademark and patent protection, a court system, maritime law, and govern D.C. That's about it. Everything else can be left to the states or local governments.
Except for the military, that's not too substantial a size.
BTW, the establishment of a national park system is not one of the functions the founders established. Nor is building dams or harbors, governing education, providing health insurance, and on and on.
Some of those things may, properly, be NECESSARY for the federal government to carry out, but the assumption should be, IMO, that local government should be given first crack, state government when local can't handle it, and federal only if the states are unable to handle it for reasons other than not enough money in their budgets. |
